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Don’t let guilt over a missed workout consume you. And don’t be too quick to say, “I’m just too busy to exercise.” Without even knowing it, your daily activities might be burning you more calories than a gym workout does for someone who is otherwise stagnant all day. You can feel twice as good about accomplishing these tasks! (Keep in mind these numbers are based on a 150 pound person, so if you weight more your calorie burn will be higher as well.)

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If you just wanted a workout, you’d step outside your house and jog. Maybe you’d invest in some small weights to have at home. You do not pay a monthly or yearly gym membership fee, just to get in and get out. But if like most people, the gym has become just one more chore you want to get over with, then you may need some reminders on how you could (and should!) be enjoying that fancy “fitness club” you pay for.

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From Hello Beautiful

Ambitious people rock my world! I am the self acclaimed princess of “go hard or go home,” but I am also the anchor lady for “rest to feel your best.” Every relationship needs balance; even the ones you have with your workouts. Pushing your body to new limits is awesome, but listening to your body is equally great. So if you want lasting success in fitness follow these simple tips and take the burnout out of your workout.

More is not better. Where all my over achievers at? Stand up! Or…maybe sit down. In fitness more is not better. I am at the gym everyday (cause I work there), and am shocked when I see the same people, every single day, doing the same workouts, and sometimes even doubling up with two a days. Craziness! Your body is not impressed with your ability to spend two hours in the gym and shows you so by either burning out or shutting down…hello injuries.

So the key is to schedule recovery days. Your body absolutely needs ample time to rest, recover and repair. Think 24-48 hours (varies dependent on workout/post workout soreness). Once a muscle is torn down it has to have time to rebuild in order to yield the best results…and that is what you are working out for right…the results?

Check out the other three tips on HelloBeautiful.com.

ATP/WENN

From ESSENCE

Since the news of Lance Armstrong admitting to using performance-enhancing drugs shocked the world, the sports scandal has been the topic of conversation for many including celebrities and other pro-athletes including Serena Williams. “I think a lot of people now look and are like, ‘OK, if somebody (is) that great, what about everyone else in every other sport?’” commented Williams after third-round wins at the Australian Open.

Armstrong openly admitted to doping and lying during seven straight Tour de France titles this past Thursday in his interview with Oprah Winfrey. “As an athlete, as someone that works really, really hard since I was 4 or 3, I think it’s a sad day for all athletes in general. Overall, it’s even more disappointing for the people that were adversely affected through everything. You can only just hope for the best for them” Williams said.

You can read the rest over on Essence.

What do you think about Lance Armstrong admitting to doping? Is there anything particularly surprising about it?

From NecoleBitchie.com

Not many 38 year olds with 3 kids or 41 year olds can say they have a body like Pilar Sanders (soon-to-be ex-wife of Deion Sanders) or Chilli.  The two were spotted on the set of VH1′s ‘Single Ladies’ recently after filming a few scenes for Season 2.  Chilli showed off major abs in an embellished bra while Pilar wore a pink Herve Leger Rose-Pattern Jacquard Mini Dress and two-toned bodycon dress.

For more about these fierce femmes and their banging bods, visit NecoleBitchie.com.

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Source: Black Voices

 From Black Voices.com 

While on hiatus from her late night talk show, Mo’Nique is apparently keeping busy at the gym. BET’s “The Monique Show” was halted indefinitely last July, providing the actress with more time to maintain the slimmed-down physique that she discussed with viewers on her show early last year.

“I want to get to 180,” she told audience members during the premier season of her show. “That’s an amazing weight for me. I’m still a thick girl but it’s a healthy weight.”

Find out what this media personality is doing to reach her weight goal at Black Voices.com. 

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Last year was a big year for Kelly Rowland and 2012 is off to a pretty good start for the singer as well. Kelly could possibly take home a Grammy for her hit single “Motivation” on Sunday and when she stopped by Chelsea Lately last night, she told the late night host that she’s “got a good man” now. (From the way she said it she wasn’t just talking for the cameras.)

In addition to spilling about her new boo, and showing off the girls in a black corset top halter dress, Kelly also talked about her 80/20 rule when it comes to maintaining her washboard abs, and coming into her own in her 30s. Check out the video clip and tell us what you think.

Are you happy Kelly is finally getting her time to shine?

Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

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Kelly has always had amazingly toned abs and now she has a workout DVD to show (some of us) how to get them too.

In the collaboration between the songstress and Hollywood trainer Jeanette Jenkins, the pair talks through the importance of proper form to avoid back injuries, then pushes through a number of strengthening and lengthening core muscle exercises. Kelly’s physique definitely serves as great ‘Motivation’ throughout the entire workout.

Check out the sneak peek of the workout below and tell us what you think. The DVD will be available starting Dec. 15. Is this on your Christmas list?

Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

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While standing in a Walgreens taking photographs that resembled mug shots for my passport, I came to an interesting but somewhat sad realization a while back: boy, had I let myself go.

Not hair wise (my afro stays on point now that it’s big), but weight wise. I’m not sloppily put together at this juncture in my life, but just a few years ago I was considered slim and lean thanks to years of playing volleyball, basketball and just running like a madman (because that’s all you do in organized sports in high school). But once I hit college, things went downhill. There was no freshman 15. (Didn’t you hear? That’s a myth.) But there was the junior junk food year, when I moved into an apartment, no longer ate what was served in residence halls (like vegetables) and had to supply my own ish. BAD idea.

The day I knew I wasn’t a slim sistah anymore came around the time when my then boyfriend’s mother said to me, “You gaining a little weight aren’t you?” I thought she was just being a biggity bi***, until I went home for break and had my own mother say the exact same thing. OUCH. I guess you never really know when your butt is getting too wide until relatives let you know it.

Along with some of the recent changes that have taken place in my life, I decided to temporarily abandon my platinum status membership card of the
wonderful world of weave and allow my natural tresses to breathe.  I am quickly remembering what frustrates me so much about wearing natural hair: It’s all fine and good when you’re fresh from the beauty salon, but the least bit of vigorous activity will have sweat taking your hair from silky straight to creeping slowly up your neck.

After spending 20 minutes curling my hair to perfection, imagine the disappointment I experienced when after a speedy walk to work, my curls barely resembled a loose wave.  I can definitely sympathize with women who avoid working out so that the hair which sometimes takes so much energy and money to maintain won’t sweat out.  But you don’t have to sacrifice your health for Hot hair. High-intensity workouts definitely have their pros, but many woman fear that they’ll have to sport a head full of frizzy hair on top of their newfound weight-loss. Low-intensity workouts have benefits as well though, including decreased blood pressure, increased flexibility and lower levels of stress.  Here’s a few exercises that will keep you fit and won’t require a daily visit to the hair salon:

*Note: If you’re one to sweat profusely very easily, we can’t guarantee these workouts will work for you, but it never hurts to try!